WILD-SWAN SHOOTING. 203 



or ornamental waters wliere they were reared, take wing, soaring- 

 high in the air, and make direct for the sea-coast ; when, should 

 they chance to alig'ht in the neighbourhood of punts and g'uns, they 

 are almost certain to fall victims to the first gunner who goes in pur- 

 suit ; and who, regardless of swan-marks, swan-herdsmen, and swan- 

 laws, is only too proud to secure a specimen of the " monarch of the 

 waters." 



Many fabulous assertions have been set up by ancient writers as to 

 the musical notes said to be uttered by a dying swan ; and such were 

 once alluded to by Sir Edward Coke, in giving judgment upon a 

 swan case.* But this sweet singing of the swan, when dying, has 

 been repeatedly contradicted, as will be seen by the references 

 below, t 



The hoopers, or wild-swans, afford fine amusement, and try the 

 punter's skill as much as any of the wild-fowl species. They are 

 generally very wild and diificult of approach ; but, with cunning and 

 patience, combined with a little ingenuity, a fair shot may some- 

 times be made. The punter should always bear in mind that these 

 birds have not the power to rise suddenly into the air, but flap 

 along the water, beating the surface with their immense wings, some 

 twenty or thirty yards, before they are able to suspend their pon- 

 derous bodies above the level of the punter's gun. 



When punting to wild-swans, the sportsman should reserve his 

 best strength till they take alarm, and seem to be preparing to fly ; 

 when at that instant, by putting on a bold spurt with his paddles, 

 a few good strokes will take him several yards nearer. It is 

 always better to reserve the fire at swans until they commence their 

 efforts to take wing : there is then abundant time to pull trigger or 

 take aim whilst they are getting up. 



If the swans be very wild and unapproachable, a successfxd shot 

 may sometimes be made by adopting the well-known manoeuvre of 

 placing a few pieces of ice and snow upon the head of the ])unt, by 

 way of disguise ; but, as this alters the trim, and consequently the 



* Vide 7 Co. Eep., p. 18. 



+ " Olorum morte narratur flebilis cantus, falso ut arbitroi- aliquot experimentis." 

 — Pliny. 



" De cygni vero cantu suavissimo queni cum mendaciorum parcnte Grecia jactare 

 ausus es, ad Luciani Tribunal, apud quern aliquid uovi dicas, statuo tc." — ScA- 



LIGER. 



" Cantandi studiosos esse jam communi sermoue pcrvulgatum est. Ego, vero 

 fortasse neque alius." — ^li.\x. 



